Explained: What is Instagram?

Explained: What is Instagram?

Instagram is among a breed of smartphone apps which have tapped into the creative, image-based online life of young people.

It’s likely that you have heard about it in passing, whether from your students, your child or in the media.

So it’s about time you got up to speed on the app and what it’s all about.

What is Instagram?

At its most basic, Instagram is a social networking app which allows its users to share pictures and videos with their friends. The app can be downloaded for free from the usual app stores and takes pride of place on many a young person’s (and older!) smartphone.

The company was founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, both Stanford University graduates, in 2010 and now has around 200 million users. Facebook, the social networking giant, acquired the company in 2012. While its basic premise is the sharing of pictures, the site’s popularity comes from its picture-editing functionality.

Once a user snaps a picture, Instagram filters – of which there are dozens – can transform images in a manner reminiscent of old-fashioned Polaroid prints. The app allows for the creation of personal profiles but also can be connected to existing social networking profiles such as Facebook and Twitter, meaning users can share their pictures across platforms.

Features

Instagram Questions

Instagram Questions is a feature introduced in July 2018. It allows users to answer questions posed by their followers. This is slightly reminiscent of the controversial Ask.FM, although answers to questions are not anonymous! If you send a question to someone you follow they can post that question to their story and write a response but it will not tag you as the person who asked the question. It is a popular feature with influencers.

Instagram Direct

Instagram Direct allows you to share photos, videos, hashtag pages, profiles and locations with a single person or small group of people (up to 15 people) right from a users’ newsfeed. You can access Instagram Direct via the Inbox icon in the top right-hand corner of the app. Find out more about Instagram Direct here: blog.instagram.com

Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories allows users to post a selection of photos/videos into one story. The new feature works in much the same way as Snapchat Stories, with stories disappearing after 24 hours. Instagram Stories are not posted to a users profile or on the Newsfeed. Instagram Stories follow the same privacy settings as a users’ Instagram profile. For example, if a user has a private account and posts a story, only the users’ friends will be able to view this story.

Instagram: What Are the Risks?

Initially, when a user signs up, his/her profile is automatically public – meaning that the pictures or videos created and shared using the app can be seen by anyone. We don’t need to outline to you the obvious privacy issues that this raises. See how to make posts private at the end of this article. With an increase in new features such as Instagram Questions, the risk is that they will be used negatively and to cyberbully other users. If you experience cyberbullying, screenshot the messages, block the bully and report them.

Instagram has also been involved in other controversies. In 2013, the BBC investigated the use of the app by drug dealers who were using Instagram to sell drugs. However, Instagram now monitors the hashtag function – used by many on the app – in an effort to halt the illicit use of its service.

Like many other social networking sites, Instagram also has age limits, albeit ones which are difficult to enforce. In Ireland, the Digital Age of Consent is set at 16. According to its terms of service:

“Instagram requires everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account (in some jurisdictions, this age limit may be higher). If your child is younger than 13 and created an account on Instagram, you can show them how to delete their account.”

Instagram: What Are the Benefits?

As with many of the most popular social networking websites, while there are risks, there are also benefits. Instagram is all about encouraging creative originality. Indeed, Instagram is probably among the reasons behind the resurgence in the popularity of photography. The app allows its young users to share their lives in quirky, filtered photographs, hashtags or short video clips and has certainly been put to good use by the majority of its users.

Young people also like the fact that they can follow famous people or influencers on the app, keep up-to-date with new businesses, news and with friends.

Instagram: FAQ’s

Is there an age restriction? Update: Under the new E.U General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Ireland has now set the Digital Age of Consent to 16 years old. This means young people under the age of 16 in Ireland are not allowed to access this platform.

Make the most out of Instagram by ensuring you understand the app functionality and privacy settings. Need some help? We answer some frequently asked questions below:

How to Block A Person

STEP 1: Tap the ‘Three Dots’ Icon on the selected profile

STEP 2: Tap ‘Block User’

How to Report a Photo or Video

STEP 1: Tap the ‘Three Dots’ under the comments section

STEP 2: Tap report inappropriate

STEP 3: Select relevant report

How to Delete and Report Comments

STEP 1: Tap the comment button

STEP 2: Depending on device either Select comment / Swipe from right to left to reveal delete options

Please also be aware that you can disable comments in your settings.

How to Share (Private)

STEP 1: Tap edit your profile

STEP 2: Tick posts are private

Our Recommendation:

Once the app is switched to private, and users share their images with their friends, we think Instagram is a great app that young people should be encouraged to use.

Ensure that users use the app with people they know and know about catfishing. If your son or daughter is using the app, makie sure they are respectful online and have consent before asking questions about other people or post pictures of other friends.